Cabinet beds



- May 27, 1958 Filed March 28 1955 5 l 5 -r -Z J. c. VON EHR 2,835,904

CABINET BEDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JACK C. VON EHR A TTORNEYS May 27, 1958 J. c. VON EHR CABINET BEDS Filed March 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JACK C. VON EHR BY -T ATTORNEYS Unite 2,835%4 Falenled May 27, 1953 CABINET BEDS Jack C. Von Ehr, Chicago, lill. assignor to Craft Way,

1 T Inc., a corpmration of lllinois Application Man-eh 23, 1955, Senlal N0. 497,14l) 3 Cairns. (C1. 5--136) The invention relates to improvements in cabinet beds and'relates to a type of folding bed structure Which can be stored with the sleeping surface in a substantially vertically extending position in the recess of a Wall er cabinet, when not in use for sleeping purposes, and for sleeping purposes may be swnng down into a horizontal position:outside of the recess.

A folding bed of the character described is one cf the oldest types f folcling beds and it is believed that it dates back to colonial days. Such beds have frequently been 0f such constrnction that they have required separate doo1s, usually of tl1e side-opening type, for closing the recess so as to conceal the be structure and, in addition, the outer edge or front side of tne extended bed has usually presented a somewhat unclressed or otherwise unsatisfactory appearance when used for sleeping purposes.

Attempts made to overcome tl1ese dilficulties have usnally resultedin a structure having sundry other objectioriable features.

The principal object of tl1is invention is to provide a cabinet bed of the general dass described in which no separate recess-closing door er doors need be openecl prior to the unfolding of the bed structure and which is so designed that the bed Will not detract frorn the ap pearance of the room when it 1's storecl in tl1E: cabinet or in the Wall of the room, and whieln will also present a satisfactory appearance when it is extended into sleeping position.

An additional object is to provide a mechanical structurewhichis simple in design and not difficultto operate while at the same tirne the structure is stabile in each position and which structure Will accommodate a becl bottom and mattress designed to provicle the ultimate in sleeping comfort.

In the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the front boards er panels which normally close the bed-reeeivingrecess,

Fig. 2is a side elevation of the structure; eertain parts being broken away to reveal certain working parts,

F1'g. 3 is a section taken 011 the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a side elevationof the folding bed structure when it iS in extended 0r sleeping position,:certain pa1t's beingbroken away 1:0 disclose some oftheworking parts, and

Fig. 5 1's a section taken 011 the line 55 Cf Fig. 4, certain parts being broken away.

Generally, the folding bed structure Will oe installed in a recess occupying a space designecl by the arehitect for the purpose, and wln'ch may be made deep enough so that the back of the recess Will serve as a closet for storing clothing. However, it may also be in the form of a separate cabinet o1 wardrobe which can be placed in any part of the room. In eacl1 case, the folding bed structure may be tl1e same. In the present instance, the recess is shown as being that provicled in the interior of a cabinet designated as a whole 10. As shown, the front of the cabinet is composed of a lower stationary rail 11 to tl1e top of which there is hinged a lower movable panel seotion 12 and above that there is an upper panel section 01 board 13 whicl1 closes the space between the upper end of the lower panel 12 and the stationary top rail M.

The two sides of the folding bed structure, whioh usu ally censltute the head end and the foot end of the sleeping surface in a bed of the type shown, are each equippecl wlth similar operating connections or linkages. Only one cf these need be described. As shown in the drawings, behind the stationary 1ail 11 there is located a bracket having a base plate 15, a standard 16, and a brace 17. In the top of the standard 16 there is a bearing arranged to support a pivot pin 18 which is secured to the end member 39 of the f1an1e of the bed bottom. The bed bottom 19 is provided With any desired type of spring arrangernent, the mattress being designated as 20.

When the bed structnre is in the position shown in Fig. 2, it is maintained securely in that positi0n by rneans of a series of coiled tension springs 21 the upper ends of Which are hooked in holes formed in a transverse angle iron member 22 (see also Fig. 5) formed as a part cf the bed frame 19, while the lower ends of the springs are hooked into holes in tl1e upwardly extending flange cf an angle iron member 23 (see Flg 4-) extending netween and carriecl by the base plates 15 an the opposite sides or ends of the recess.

Describing W the iinkage for autornaticall y contro! ling the osition of the various parts wl1en the bed is unf0lded or extended, it will be observed tl1aat when in folded position the upper board er pane'l 13 is suspendecl frorn a pivot pin 24 carried by one of the up per cornets of the'bed frarne 19, the position cf the pivot pin' 24 being such that the pper end of the panel 13 niely" clears the unclerside ofthe rail 14. A stop 25 may be providecl on the unclerside of the rail member 14 to'limit tl1-s inward movement ofthe folding bed structure Wl1enlt is in the recess. As will be seen th'e lo'wer endof the board 13 slightly overlaps the upper end of the lower panel section 12 when in folded poition.

Desiraoly, Ehe springs 21, tlnee or more in number on each end 01 side of the folcling bed structure, areas long as possible and cf as many turns' as possible so that there will not be too much difference inthe"tension 0f tl1e springs in thei1 two positions. NVhen the folcling" bed siructure is uprigl1t in the rece'ss as shownn Fig.= 2, there will still be enough tension left in the springe. to securely hold the bed structure With the npperend of the leg board 13 in firm engag'emient Wlll the stcp 25, while at the same time the tension'of the spfings when the structure 1's in the position shown in Fig. 4 will not be so excessive as to interfer'eNvith the stalility of the bed in its extended osition.

In order to open the bed,the occupant 0f the room gras ps one or both of tl1e knobs 26 ahd: pulls*forwardly wherenpon through' pivot '24 tl1e main bed' structnre fl'9" Will move outwarclly with the top "boa1d 13 n'htill 'if assumes tl1e position shown in Fig. 4. Since the board 13, Which serves as a leg when the structure is in sleeping osition, should assume a substantially vertical position, it is found desirable in such a structure that some means should be provided to assure this vertical position of tl1e front board and tnis is el'fected by rneans of a separaie controlling link 27 which, when in folded position, occupies a position substantially parallel Witl1 the end rnember 19 of the bed bottom frame. The upper end of tl1e controlling link 27 is pivoted to a pin 28 carried by the leg board 13 and the lower end of the controlling link 27 is pivoted 011 a pin 29 mounted on the stationary Standard 16. The distance between pivots 24 and 28 3 is preferably substantially equal to the distance between the pivots 18 and 29 so that a parallel motion effect is obtained as shown by comparison of Figs. 1 and 4.

Returning now to the lower panel section 12, it will be seen that the lower end of the same as shown in Fig. 2 is equipped With hinges 30 enabling it to swing out wardly from the top of the fixed bottom rail 11. The upper end of the lower panel member 12 is equipped with a rectangular bail or braeket 31 (see also Fig. 3) secured to the upper end of. the panel 12 by suitable serews 32. The limbs of the bail or bracl:et 31 extend out far enough to accommodate a small anti-friction roller 33 on a pivot pin 34 extending across the arms of the bail 31, the roller 33 being located a sufltcient distance frorn the panel member 12 so as to freely accommodate the cross section of the controiling 1ink Z7. As Will be seen by inspection of Fig. 4, the bail 31 serves as a hange1 which serves to support the outer end of the lower panel section 12 While permitting sliding movement of the side panel relative to the folding bed structure. Although the panel 12 possibly might oe supported from the frame 19 in certain cases, I prefer to suspend it from the controlling links 27.

It will be understood that the hanger or bail connection 31 has a double purpose. In the extended position of the bed, as stated it supports the lower panel section 12 f1'om the link 27 and, secondly, when the bed is folded, it raises the front panel section 12 into its outer or front position as shown in Fig. 2.

I claim:

1. A cabinet having a front opening and a recess rearwardly of said opening, a folding bed structure in said recess comprising a hed frame pivoted in the recess on a horizontal axis near the lower end of said opening so that the bed frame when swung down and outwardly through about a right angle will move into a substantially horizontal sleeping position, a freut board pivoted to the bed frame on a horizontal axis and hanging from said frame so as to form a leg for supporting the outer edge of the frarne when the frame is in sleeping position, and a link connecting a point 011 said front board spaced from the board pivot with a point within the recess so spaced from the frame -pivot that the board Will assume a substantially vertically hanging position when the bed frame is folded, and in such position Will fonn a panel section closing the upper part of said opening and Will also control the movement of the board into leg position when the frame is extended into sleeping position, a panel section for closing the lower part of said opening, hinged to the front of the cabinet on a horizontal axis near the lower end of the opening, and rneans connecting said lower panel section to said link so as to swing the said lower panel section from a position under the bed structure, which said lower panel occupies when the frame is in sleeping position to a substantially vertical front position closing the lower part of said opening when the frame is folded.

2. A cabinet having a front opening and a recess rearwardly of said opening, a folding bed structure.in said recess comprising a bed frame pivoted in the recess on a horizontal axis near the lowerend of said opening so that the bed frame when swung down and outwardly through about a right angle will move into a substantially horizontal sleeping position, a freut leg board pivoted to the bed frarne on a horizontal axis and hanging frorn said frame so as to form a leg for supporting the outer edge of the frame when the frarne is in sleeping position, and a link connecting a point on said front leg board spaced from the board pivot with a point within the recess so spaced from the frame pivot that the board will assume a substantially vertically hanging position when the bed frarne is folded, and in such position will form a panel section elosing the upper part of said opening and will also control the movement of the board into leg position when the frame is extended into sleeping position, a panel section for closing the lower part of said opening, hinged to the front of the cabinet on a horizontal axis near the lower end of the opening, and a hanger connecting said lower panel section to said link so as to swing the said lower panel section from a position under the bed structure which it occupies when the frame is in sleeping position to a substantially vertical front position closing the lower part of said opening when the frame is folded.

3. A cabinet having a front opening and a recess rearwardly of said opening, a folding bed structure in said recess cornprising a bed frame pivoted in the recess on a horizontal axis near the lower end of said opening so that the bed frarne when swung down and outwardly through about a right angle will move into a substan tially horizontal sleeping position, a front leg board pivoted to the bed frarne on a horizontal axis and hanging from said frame so as to form a leg for supporting the outer edge of the frame when the frame is in sleeping position, and a link connecting a point on said front leg board below the board pivot With a point within the recess so spaced downwardly from the frame pivot that the board will assurne a substantially vertically hanging position when the bed frame is folded, and in such position will form a panel section closing the upper part of said opening and Will also control the movement of the board into leg position when the frame is extended into sleeping position, a panel section for closing the lower part of said opening, hinged to the front of the cabinet on a horizontal axis near the lower end of the opening, and means connecting said lower panel section to said link so as to swing the said lower panel section from a position under the bed structure which said lower panel occupies when the frame is in sleeping position to a substantially vertical front position closing the lower part cf said opening when the frame is folded, while permitting sliding movernent of said lower panel relative to said bed structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1398,368 Brown Apr. 22, 1902 1,057256 McCarry Mar. 23, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS 43,825 Denmark Mar. 9, 1931 412,704 Great Britain July 5, 1934 505,341 Germany Aug. 18, 1930 

